Fidei Defensor Posted March 30, 2005 Posted March 30, 2005 (edited) Gosh it's hard! Lord, help me! Edited March 30, 2005 by fidei defensor
rachael Posted March 30, 2005 Posted March 30, 2005 prayers. and trust me, you aren't alone in this fight. most of us struggle.
Pio Nono Posted March 30, 2005 Posted March 30, 2005 JMJ 3/29 - Easter Tuesday Follow Christopher West's advice and stand cruciform - it has an immediate practical benefit. Also, when Satan tells you to put your arms down, don't come off that cross.
sweetpea316 Posted March 30, 2005 Posted March 30, 2005 *prayers* Indeed...it is incredibly difficult, and is something I know that I struggle with also! But yes, just remember that the Lord is always there for you and pray for strength when faced with temptation or are feeling weak. God bless.
FiZzGiG Posted March 30, 2005 Posted March 30, 2005 PRAYERS!! Quotes for your thoughts... "There is need for a crusade of manliness and purity to counteract and nullify the savage work of those who think man is a beast. And that crusade is your work." - St. Josemaria Escriva "Holy Purity, the queen of virtues, the angelic virtue, is a jewel so precious that those who possess it become like the angels of God in heaven, even though clothed in mortal flesh." - St. John Bosco "To be pure, to remain pure, can only come at a price, the price of knowing God and loving him enough to do his will. He will always give us the strength we need to keep purity as something as beautiful for him." - Blessed Mother Teresa "Purity prepares the soul for love, and love confirms the soul in purity." - St. John Henry Cardinal Newman God bless and Mary protect!
FranciscanRocker25 Posted March 30, 2005 Posted March 30, 2005 hey- the thing you have to remember is you're not alone in this and everyone struggles with it. jason evert, a catholic chastity speaker has a book called, if you really loved me. it's in q&a format, but its great. ask for intercession from st. agnes and other patrons of purity. look here to find quotes by saints about purity: [url="http://www.pureloveclub.com/research/index.php?id=44"]http://www.pureloveclub.com/research/index.php?id=44[/url] you'll be in my prayers
Brother Adam Posted March 30, 2005 Posted March 30, 2005 [quote name='Pio Nono' date='Mar 29 2005, 10:45 PM'] JMJ 3/29 - Easter Tuesday Follow Christopher West's advice and stand cruciform - it has an immediate practical benefit. Also, when Satan tells you to put your arms down, don't come off that cross. [/quote] Yes. If you have a girlfriend or wife tape a picture of them on your monitor. Take a cold shower, pray a rosary. Don't dwell on what not to do. Get out of the house. Go buy ice cream and pizza. Exercise. Shoot, give me a call if you want. RUN LIKE HELL from Satan's lies. I was addicted to sexual sin all through my teenage years and still experience temptation. I know where you're at.
FranciscanRocker25 Posted March 30, 2005 Posted March 30, 2005 heres my favorite: "'Purity?' they ask. And they smile. They are the ones who go on to marriage with worn-out bodies and disillusioned souls." - St. Josemaria Escriva
Brother Adam Posted March 30, 2005 Posted March 30, 2005 * Get to mass daily if you can. The more you are at the Eucharist, the more you are prepared for battle. * Get to confession as much as possible. Come to think of viewing pornography and masturbating for what they are - depraved sins that displease God. * Do not dwell on not doing wrong. This is the biggest mistake most people make. Dwell on doing right. Do not say "I am not going to masturbate, I know pornography is wrong". Do say "I am going to follow the Lord's will in my life. I am going to dwell on the Lord." Don't even let evil ideas, even for the point of rejecting them, enter into your mind. * Wear a rubber band around your wrist and every time you are moved to a lustful thought, snap it. Familiarize lustful thoughts with something unpleasant. * Get a fiddler on your computer and have a password set by someone else so you do not know what it is. * If you have a girlfriend or wife, take a small picture of them and tape it to your computer monitor. Look at it often and realize every time you lust after another woman you are stabbing them in the back. If you don't have a girlfriend or wife, use a picture of Our Lady. Better yet, post both. * Say the rosary every day. Keep a rosary by your computer. * Ask for the help of St. Michael the Archangel everyday. * Get a copy of Every Man's Battle, even from the library. Read it. Apply what it teaches. * Offer up all of your pain and struggles in prayer. Be attentive to prayer morning and night, and get a copy of the Liturgy of the Hours and use it. Get on your knees every time you get to the point where you are going to fail. * Read the scriptures daily. * Get out of the house if you have to, to avoid sin. * Get an accountability partner. Another person of the same sex that you can call if need be that can pray for you. Share in your struggles and victories. * Pray for perseverance. Every day is a new day. Rejoice in the victories you have, get beyond the failures and don't let it bring you too down. Depression is not going to help and is a snare and vice. * Do all of these things, prepare for the long haul. It is a long battle ahead of you. * Prayer. Prayer. Prayer.
Fidei Defensor Posted March 30, 2005 Author Posted March 30, 2005 [quote name='Brother Adam' date='Mar 29 2005, 08:57 PM'] * Get to mass daily if you can. The more you are at the Eucharist, the more you are prepared for battle. * Get to confession as much as possible. Come to think of viewing pornography and masturbating for what they are - depraved sins that displease God. * Do not dwell on not doing wrong. This is the biggest mistake most people make. Dwell on doing right. Do not say "I am not going to masturbate, I know pornography is wrong". Do say "I am going to follow the Lord's will in my life. I am going to dwell on the Lord." Don't even let evil ideas, even for the point of rejecting them, enter into your mind. * Wear a rubber band around your wrist and every time you are moved to a lustful thought, snap it. Familiarize lustful thoughts with something unpleasant. * Get a fiddler on your computer and have a password set by someone else so you do not know what it is. * If you have a girlfriend or wife, take a small picture of them and tape it to your computer monitor. Look at it often and realize every time you lust after another woman you are stabbing them in the back. If you don't have a girlfriend or wife, use a picture of Our Lady. Better yet, post both. * Say the rosary every day. Keep a rosary by your computer. * Ask for the help of St. Michael the Archangel everyday. * Get a copy of Every Man's Battle, even from the library. Read it. Apply what it teaches. * Offer up all of your pain and struggles in prayer. Be attentive to prayer morning and night, and get a copy of the Liturgy of the Hours and use it. Get on your knees every time you get to the point where you are going to fail. * Read the scriptures daily. * Get out of the house if you have to, to avoid sin. * Get an accountability partner. Another person of the same sex that you can call if need be that can pray for you. Share in your struggles and victories. * Pray for perseverance. Every day is a new day. Rejoice in the victories you have, get beyond the failures and don't let it bring you too down. Depression is not going to help and is a snare and vice. * Do all of these things, prepare for the long haul. It is a long battle ahead of you. * Prayer. Prayer. Prayer. [/quote] Thanks! I especially like the rubber band idea. That will work for me definatly
Pio Nono Posted March 30, 2005 Posted March 30, 2005 JMJ 3/29 - Easter Tuesday Also, this might sound kinda dopey, but on those occasions that you conquer the temptation, celebrate it - if you're over 21, have a glass of nice scotch; if you're under 21, do whatever it is that under-21-year-olds do for fun. (listen to me, I'm only 21 and I'm saying this) Your head might feel like it's gonna roll off, but let it - St. Denis of Ireland (according to legend) had his head fall off, and when someone placed it back on his body, it grew back on. Don't worry.
Luthien Posted March 30, 2005 Posted March 30, 2005 (edited) Daily mass has helped me immensely in more ways than one. Edited March 30, 2005 by Luthien
Nicole8223 Posted March 30, 2005 Posted March 30, 2005 I think Br. Adam hit them ALL. Those are some inspiring ideas.... St. Francis deSales says the worst thing you can do is get angry at yourself for being human. Your anger over sin and temptation only leads to a deeper mistrust of God, which weakens your spirit. Rejoice in victory, and pray for perseverance. As everyone else said, you're totally not alone and you have all of our prayers. Ask for St. Augustine's help!!!
Brother Adam Posted March 30, 2005 Posted March 30, 2005 (edited) I wish more men would seek help. Polling today shows that more than 90% of males struggle and fail with chastity. Each man should not place blame solely on themselves. This society has bred the sexual revolution which has told him that sexual sin is okay. To those who don't struggle with it - never shun someone who admits problems and seeks for help. It's the first step to victory. And victory is oh so sweet. Edited March 30, 2005 by Brother Adam
Fidei Defensor Posted March 30, 2005 Author Posted March 30, 2005 I am using the rubber band thing right now, and its working well.
Fidei Defensor Posted March 30, 2005 Author Posted March 30, 2005 Except I am snapping it more than i want to admit.
Spiritual_Arsonist Posted March 30, 2005 Posted March 30, 2005 [quote name='fidei defensor' date='Mar 29 2005, 10:31 PM'] Gosh it's hard! Lord, help me! [/quote] Ditto, ditto, and, um, gee, oh...DITTO!!!
Luthien Posted March 30, 2005 Posted March 30, 2005 Please, be pure with Gods grace. Your future wife will be more than pleased, she will be honored.
Brother Adam Posted March 30, 2005 Posted March 30, 2005 [quote name='fidei defensor' date='Mar 30 2005, 12:15 AM'] Except I am snapping it more than i want to admit. [/quote] As long as you are snapping it you have nothing to be ashamed of. That rubberband is a sword for your soul. Don't stop swinging.
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